Folks need to get together and file a class action. This is happening too may times and this is obviously a bad design. It also appears to be an inadequate bearing for the applied loads both vertical and horizontal. Any knowledgeable person or engineer could see this from the pictures and analysis of the failed bearings. If we continue to let the MOCO get away with this, it is our fault. Bad engineering should not be tolerated. We would not tolerate this in other products like cars, trucks, etc. A law firm should be willing to take this on, since their fees would be part of the settlement. Not too mention the safety factor, if it seizes during operation. JMO

 

Im disgusted. 25,000 bike and a 15 cent tranny. My 07 FLHRC went down on me in Fla last month with you guessed it main shaft bearings failure with only 18,000 mile on it. Out of waranty, no extended waranty. I traded the junk off and got some morejunk call a FLHTCU 2010. 2500 miles on it and already seeing the metal fragments spoken of here. I WAS using AMSOIL severe gear 75/90 when it went out. Worthless harley mech said it was because of AMSOIL. It wasn't because of Amsoil or mobile1 or redline or belray or any other oil, ts because the sorry clowns at Harley can't build a machine that will hold up more than 20,000 miles and I'm ticked. 20,000 thousand for a worthless RK and 25,000 for a much more worthless Ultra classic.
If this tranny goes out again I'll set the junk on fire and never own another harley. COME ON HARLEY, WHAT GIVES...BUILD A MACHINE LIKE YOU USE TO OR SHUT THE PLACE DOWN.

 

Found this info on another forum....talks about the metal fragments Im finding in this new 2010 ultra behind the inspection cover

Good information on HD 6 speeds

First of all if your bike is still under warranty this is good thing. “So before your warranty expires” I stress that u take your transmission inspect cover off, one must remove exhaust and muffler on right side, then remove transmission inspect cover (6 Allen head bolts). Once u have done that and if u can’t, it’s about hour labor charge at your dealer (well spent 100.00 dollars). Look in the bottom inside of trans inspect cover for grey slugs and metal particles in this area. Appearance of this, then your transmission needs complete rebuild, all bearings, seals, gaskets need replacement. Inspecting at your oil plug magnet on regular services will not tell u anything, trust me on that one. Now (06 to10 models) any oil leaking from primary or growling sound from primary area is good sign you need to investigate. This grey slug and metal u will see on inspect side got there, because the swirl of the oil throws the entire particles to the inspect cover side. “Maybe this good thing”, that’s where it pools up and stays; these metal particles are caused by failure of main shaft bearing which is a two piece roller bearing. HD # 8967, which is a *** bearing # 559796. This two piece bearing has three races, two sets of roller bearings. Good inspection of this bearing once transmission is torn down ( 8 hours labor charge or more) u will see on “front wheel side” of the main shaft bearing largest inner race is galled in this area only, back side of same race looks normal.. This tends to make me believe that there are added forces to this front area of main shaft bearing. ( Why?) The other two races of this main shaft bearing are galled completely around both races. I have now rebuilt three HD 6 speeds, One Dyna and two FLH’S. same story for each identically, only different is mileages. Mostly from my experience 15000 miles to 28000 miles trouble starts with this main shaft bearing. Tomorrow I start my fourth transmission tear down on customer’s transmission. Now little word about your inner primary bearing and clutch hub bearing. Inspect yourself; remove primary cover and two bolts and chain tensioner, then slide out drive sprocket with chain and clutch hub to inspect. Here is heads up on these bearings. Failure of inner primary and clutch hub bearings is caused by your clutch hub splines cracking off. Inspect clutch hub splines to see if chucks are missing inside. These chunks go right into both bearings in time. It’s not the main shaft splines; it’s the clutch hub splines. So inspect carefully. Failure of both main shaft bearing and inner primary bearing can occur at anywhere from 15000 mile to 45.000 miles. At this top mileage mentioned, I would most definitely inspect and hope u still under warranty, just remember HD service bulletins and warranties are in house. Its HD’S best kept secret to not having recalls or really letting public information out. Opinion, HD 6 speeds (06 to10 models) are troubled until HD provides updates. I have phoned Baker transmission and they use same bearings and “possibly considering” making redesign on this bearing. But don’t hold your breath. Once U are off HD warranty, there is no update by HD as of yet to transmission problem. So new HD bearings are same old ones **** to failure cause by????. ( Bummer) HD knows there is problem and as usual put hands in the air. Normal for HD. So use that warranty well. Last but least,” run dinosaur oil” in primary and trany. The engine, run what u like for type of oil. Try this, when at traffic stop light and your in neutral, pull in clutch when u see amber light. This give time to slow down motion and u get less chunk in gear. Personally, this saves on splines of clutch hub or first start ups pull in clutch early. Before engaging trans... 4 all who doubt, inspection says all. Catch early save money, nothing wrong with that.

 

07 Street Glide here. 14,000 miles. Just went out, last week. Pisses you off.

 

Thinkk I'll fill the crankcase up with castrol 20/50, I ran castrol oils in a 77 Honda 750 for 98,000 miles and never had any issues with that rice burner.

So many opinions on who's oil is better that so many guys and gals are confused. The issue is not the oil...ITS THE MOCO building JUNK tranny's. You should be able to run buttermilk in these trannys and never have a problem...though I wouldn't advise that...BUT COME ON....these bikes are way to expensive to be have trans troubles on after less that 20,000 miles....I just got this worthless ultra in fla after my RK put me down and now this is starting to show signs it is going to do the same thing... yea Im ticked off....25,000 bucks for 1500.00 machine

 

26,000 on my '07 with no issues. (knock wood) Got a liitle paranoid after reading this thread, and thought I was "hearing" some noise, but the bike is fine. I use SYN3 in all 3 holes. As you can see, I live in Florida, so the oil temps get up there pretty good.

 

The MOCO will continue until WE stop them. You can't tell me they are not aware. So are the dealers, that's why it is always the oils fault. If mine goes, I will sue. Would be easier if all the folks on here would start a class action. A class action would scare the MOCO to death. If my ford truck **** it's tranny in 15000 miles, I would be pissed.

 

I'm starting to agree with the class action idea. Problem is - who's gonna start it?
I've been through enough legal battles to know - it's a total crapshoot! I'd hate to be further behind, cash wise, then I already am.
FWIW - I still haven't heard of any catastrohic failure of this bearing. Mine took 22K miles to get to what you see in the pictures, and it was still working. I have a feeling some just don't hear it, or accept it as "normal".
It is a fairly robust design as far as absolute failure is concerned. When one bearing goes (any of the 5 regarding the mainshaft), others will support the load - for a while anyway.

 

I would assume there are some lawyers on here. A class action usually does not cost the class anything because the lawyers get paid off the settlement. Need to start a poll and get a group that have had the failure together and approach a law firm about taking the case. Folks who have actually had the failure need to start the action, I have not had the failure at this point. The MOCO should be made to cover any repairs to this and redesign/recall the remaining units. Another course of action could be to allow the MOCO the fix any failures free to the customer forever. Any good engineering firm could analyze the failures because it is pretty obvious that it is a bad design. Could be the type metals used, types of loads, manufacturing dimensions, etc. or any combination thereof. This type of crappy design for such an expensive product needs to stop, it is what continues to haunt GM for the crap they built in the 80's. My bike costs more than my truck and my truck is at 80,000 with no problems whatsoever.

 

That works if you're suing for a monetary award, and the class divies up what's left after the lawyers get their cut (only the lawyers get rich). This suit would only require Harley to fix it's problem's regarding this issue. Also, to fix "forever" would NEVER be part of the settlement.
It would probably be far more cost effective to let the NHTSA, or a civic rights group, tackle this one.
Harley will battle with mega bucks to not loose this lawsuit against Joe Citizen.
However a plaintiff with very well researched and documented case, and a decent lawyer, and a thousand affidavit's of customer work performed regarding this issue, might have a shot.
AND NEVER trust a lawyer who say's it's a slam dunk case! They'll get paid either way!